.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend break on a last-second basket to scratch university regulation football's first big upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it is actually a gain they'll be celebrating for a long times to follow. For the Battling Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a small school coming from a significantly substandard association was a humiliation for Notre Dame.Especially since they paid NIU $1.4 million to do it.This shines a light on one of the lengthiest and most expensive heritages in college football: guarantee activities. They are actually additionally contacted "funds games," "salary video games," or, as I like to phone them, "buy weeks." A costly (and also risky) traditionFor decades, in the initial couple of full weeks of the period, significant college volleyball companies have paid for smaller universities to come to play all of them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, greater than $35 thousand was invested all over at least 55 warranty games, according to Front end Workplace Athletics. Alabama created the greatest check to its opponent, Western side Kentucky, for a monstrous $1.9 million. WKU shed that game 63-- 0, but they probably hit the bank on the bus adventure home and also very likely will not think twice about it.In Full week 2, 3 schools-- Western Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and also Utah State-- received payments greater than NIU's $1.4 million. They lost by a mixed credit rating of 156-- 3, yet they take away a total amount of $4.85 million in the process.It's commonly a deal for both groups. The small schools get a paycheck, the major institutions get an additional home activity to milk gameday profits. The tiny university gets to play on the significant stage and also obtain nationwide direct exposure, the big one receives a dish on the schedule to start the year in a sporting activity without any preseason. Thus all's effectively as well as really good till the lower crew determines to present out as well as take the distress.